Celebrations

This is not a typical Minnesotan's Christmas, but one we will not forget.

Celebrations continued as everybody left the chapel singing and smiling-such warm feelings. Everybody was dressed in their best outfits.

The circle of members outside the chapel, including the expanded choir, kept singing. A little business was handled -- but no auction this day.

Another Form 2, and 2 requesting

2011 Forms 2 and 3 at Idodi

Eventually the students were called and they came into the middle for photos. Two on the left are at Idodi in Forms 2 and 3 and the two on the far right side need to be sponsored and have put in requests. Merito took some photos and interpreted, also.

Students we talked to have big dreams! We can all say prayers for their success. They know that education is important.

While we waited, Father Christmas "talked " to the elders with help from Merito. At first only a few allowed photos, but with laughs and hand shakes, he was able to convince them.  Maybe the funny red suit did the trick!

Chairs were moved from the church to the shade trees. There we ate a meal with the visitors around a table, while the elders formed a second tier on benches, stools and the grass.

After rinsing our hands with warm water (brought from 3 kilometers away remember), plates filled with two types of rice with a tomato/vegetable sauce were brought to us first. Bowls of chicken, beef, maybe goat, and chips (like our fries) followed. Bottles of water and soda appeared, and delicious chai with milk was poured for us.

There were spoons and toothpicks available to eat with or fingers worked, too! The chakula (food) was brought to all of us and the elders by a few young men and boys and the evangelists, Azuberi and Yohana. 

The women and children ate in the shaded cooking area or by the chapel, and they let us take a few photos, also. Ladies, notice washing tubs and cooking pots and all the work done on knees or squatting.  Are we up to it?







After dinner the morani, Maasai young men, began to assemble and started their jumping and throat singing. We hope to be able to show this on video when we return. It always amazes both of us how high they can leap straight up into the air.

The young girls or teenagers had on all their finery and were doing their shaking. You will have to see the videos to appreciate how hard they all worked and enjoyed themselves. A little showing off on both sides or trying to impress each other? This went on for at least an hour or more. They use the stick for balance since all used one when they jumped.

This throat singing was is the background all the time that they were leaping. And the girls had their own music, also. Azuberi joined in the singing and leaping, as well as, Yohana, the evangelist.

Elder Juma, Pastor Naftal, Merito, Richard, and Treas. Kalulu

A group of us went to see Elder Juma's partially built house. It is slowly being built because the water to mix with cement has to be carried from the other village. He hopes it will be finished quicker once the pipes bring water to the village.

Once we returned from the walk, we prepared to load the car and take our leave. Of course, this would only happen after many hugs, asante sanas, karibu, and kwa herini greetings and more singing as we drove away. Wow! what a Christmas celebration! There is no question whether we have brothers and sisters here in the family of God.  Bwana asifiwe--Praise the Lord.  Amen